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ESPN staff 9y

Romario joins Brazilian Senate with big win in Rio de Janiero seat

Brazil legend Romario scored a resounding political victory on Sunday as he was elected to the Senate with 63.4 percent of the vote for the Rio de Janeiro seat.

Socialist Party (PSB) candidate Romario, a leading star in the Brazil side that claimed the 1994 World Cup, secured 4,683,963 votes, beating the Democratic Party's Cesar Maia, with 20.5 percent, into second place.

The 48-year-old -- who won the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 1994 -- had joined PSB in 2009, declaring that his aim was "helping people," and had been elected a federal lawmaker in 2010.

"I thank the people of Rio and those who believed in me," he said on Sunday. "I'm well aware of my responsibilities as I represent these people. That last four years have been a period of learning, of gaining experience. Now I am ready to start a new phase, and I'm ready."

He added: "I know that the country is in a critical moment and I'll do what I set out to do."

Romario, whose campaign has put heavy focus on supporting children with disabilities, was a vocal critic of FIFA and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) during this summer's World Cup.

"He still says what he thinks," Marcos Guterman, author of the book "Football Explains Brazil," told AFP last month. "He started in politics without knowing what was waiting for him, but he discovered he liked it. He saw his leadership ability won people's respect. That's made him an important leader in Rio and I don't doubt he'll eventually be mayor or governor."

He also posted on Facebook to express his delight at the success, writing: "This electoral situation confirms that the people are tired of voting for the affluent class and they want to see themselves reflected by Congress. Today, history will determine that someone who came from the favelas becomes senator of the Republic."

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Post by Romário Faria.

Romario starred for clubs including Vasco da Gama, PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona during his club career, finally hanging up his boots in 2009.

His former Brazil teammate Bebeto, meanwhile, won a second four-year term as one of the 70 deputies working for the Legislative Assembly of Rio. The former striker represents the Solidarity Party.

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